Elements of a Mature Church

I. Recognize the Obedient  v.14

- We have a responsibility to one another - We are instructed to:

•    * Note the people who are not obedient - A lifestyle contrary to God’s Word
•    * Disassociate from the disobedient - Withdraw fellowship

- The goal is to put them to shame - Not to embarrass, to bring about obedience

- Admonish him as a brother not an enemy - This allows them to hear you

•    * Come across/Heart of love - Our goal must always be to restore one another if we wander

- Realize it could happen to you too - Be obedient - Quickly!

II. Discovered Peace  v.15

- Paul told them he wanted God to continually grant them peace - Their struggles with peace affected their behavior - Peace is not the absence of troubles, it is confidence in God that realizes trouble will not derail Him or His plans

- In every circumstance - Why was it important for Paul to pray that they had God’s peace in every circumstance? - Because we allow the things that happen around us to affect our relationship with God!

- Peace is not circumstance based! - How can this be true?

•    * Ephesians 2:13-16 says, “Jesus is our peace”.

- We can’t live our lives believing God is for or against us based on the things happening around us - Other people’s free will choices do not have the power to remove our peace unless we allow it - God will never abandon you!

III. Obedience Demonstrated  v.16

- Paul ends this letter by telling them he had written it by his own hand - Why is this significant?

•    * Many people believe Paul had a eye problem and most of his writings were penned by other people even though they were his words
•    * I would like to add an additional thought why Paul penned this himself

 - Maybe no scribes or helpers were available

 - Maybe this message was so important that Paul wanted to obey immediately and nothing was going to stop him

- Interesting fact: There was something unique about Paul’s penmanship that identifies the writing as his - Could be size or something else

- Getting the message out that God had given him was more important to Paul than his own limitations - No excuses! Obedience matters!

CONCLUSION:

- Here are some things to help you with your obedience:

• * We are in this together - Our goal for one another ought to be that we would all walk in complete obedience to Christ so we don’t miss anything God has for us and in those we engage
• * Remember, by definition, circumstances change - How many of you have had good and bad things happen to you? - Why are we allowing that to affect our relationship with Christ?

- We wrongly expect Him to make our life easy - He has already made your life holy - Don’t allow circumstances to cause you to question His love or commitment to you

• * What excuses have you made to justify disobedience to what God has asked you to do? - Remember, everything God asks you to do, He equips you to do

- Don’t let anything keep you from obeying God!

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